Canadian Anglicans face exile in gay row

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Conservative archbishops representing more than half of the world's Anglicanism have called for the Canadian Church to be expelled for describing homosexual relationships as holy.

In a significant blow to the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, traditionalist leaders criticised the Canadian general synod on Sunday for affirming that same-sex unions had "integrity and sanctity".

They said the Canadians should be ejected with the liberal American Episcopal Church, which backed the consecration last year of Anglicanism's first openly gay bishop, New Hampshire's Gene Robinson. Their intervention has damaged moves by Dr Williams and other Anglican leaders to bring peace between the factions on homosexuality.

Last week it appeared that the Canadian synod had avoided a clash with the conservatives when it decided to delay a vote on homosexual blessings at its meeting in Ontario.

But a late amendment introduced by liberals at the synod infuriated the Global South group of conservative primates, who represent more than 50 million of the world's 70 million Anglicans.

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Liberals argued that the amendment, which was designed to placate homosexuals who were angry about the delay over blessings, was not intended to have theological significance.

Conservative primates said the term "sanctity" put same-sex unions on a par with marriage and pre-empted debate on their doctrinal status.

In a statement on behalf of 22 Global South primates, Archbishop Gregory Venables, the Primate of the Southern Cone (South America), said: "The use of the word 'sanctify' means that the whole issue has already been decided, and that is devastating.

"It's saying that God has agreed to bless same-sex unions, as the word carries the implication that this isn't just right, but that this is God's will, and he has set it apart for the human race."